Compare towns
Dedham vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Foxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Foxborough has the most homeowners (73.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Springfield | Worcester | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
18,615Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
58.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$115,833±$9k 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,843±$70 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Foxborough |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | South High Community | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
14.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.